Ventilating back and seat cushion



1952 E. MITCHELL VENTILATING BACK AND SEAT CUSHION Filed Jan. 22, 1962 INVNTOR ERNEST MITCHELL United States Patent 3,063,753 VENTILATING BACK AND SEAT CUSHION Ernest Mitchell, 601 N. 39th St., Fort Smith, Ark. Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 169,996 1 Claim. (Cl. 297-453) This invention relates to structures having seats and backs of various kinds, some of which are designed to remain in a fixed location, and some of which are movable, and more particularly to structures having seats and backs through which air can freely circulate especially when they are in use during the hot weather.

The invention relates specifically to auxiliary back and seat cushions constructed to add comfort to the users by allowing the circulation of air or providing ventilation, in addition to the cushioning effects, which structures can be selectively used on backs and seats of different kinds and in difierent locations.

Heretofore seat and back cushions of this kind have included spring wire in their constructions with a cover of loose woven fabric and through which air could circulate, the springs serving both to cushion and to provide space for the circulation of air. These devices have not been satisfactory due to the fact that the springs have been flimsy and the continued relative movement caused breakage of the springs and fabric and resulted in jagged edges becoming exposed and sometimes causing damage to upholstery, covers, wearing apparel, and to the person. This breakage apparently has been impossible to avoid if the ventilating characteristics were retained thereby providing seat and back cushions having a relatively short life span.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive combination seat and back cushion structure which incorporates cushioning and air circulating or ventilating qualities, which is of pleasing appearance, durable construction, and which is free of hazards to person and property. Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary seat and back cushion of metal and fabric construction having central portions of spring coils within relatively strong metal border frames with both encased in a loosely woven fabric reinforced with a denser strip around its edges in a manner that the major portions of the metal frames which ordinarily causes maximum wear is retained within the borders of the same thereby increasing the life span of the structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention with the upper surface of one corner elevated in a manner to disclose the interior construction;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary detail section on the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3, an enlarged fragmentary detailed section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a relatively thin unitary seat and back cushion, the seat and back portions of which each is composed of metal and fabric, the inner part of each of the seat and back portions being formed of relatively light parallel loosely wound spring coils interwoven or interengaged to provide in each the seat and back a continuous cushioning support with air circulating spaces and with a heavier metal border frame all encased in a loosely woven envelope or casing of fabric or other sheet material with ventilating openings.

Reinforcing coverings are provided for each seat and back including a denser heavier strip around the edges, secured in a manner that the major portions of the heavier metal frames which ordinarily produce maximum wear are retained within the borders of the denser strips so that they receive the wear and enhance the durability of the structure. Also a binder strip is disposed around the edges of the structure with its edges extending along the top and bottom surfaces of the casing.

With continued reference to the drawing, the seat cushion of the present invention comprises a series of relatively light loosely wound spring coils 10 disposed in parallel or side by side interwoven or interlaced relation providing a cushioning and ventilating structure. The coils 10 are mounted within a heavy metal border frame 11, the coils and frame being encased in an envelope 12 of sheet material loosely woven or perforated with sufficient openings to allow free circulation of air therethrough.

A wear strip 13 of denser heavier material is disposed around each edge of the envelope and is secured in place by stitches 14 or other desired means. The strip 13 is of a width and location such that the major portion of the heavier metal frame 11 which ordinarily produces the greatest wear is retained within the borders of the strip so that the strip receives the wear protecting the sheet members which form the covering or envelope in which the springs are located thereby increasing the durability of the structure.

The reinforced edges of the coverings forming the envelope 12 extend outwardly beyond the margin of the frame 11 and are joined in parallel relation so that they form in eifect a bumper or wearguard for the edges of the envelope and in addition are provided with a binder strip 15 which overlies the top and bottom surfaces of the envelope and fastened in place by means of stitching 16, the completed structure providing a seat 17 and a back rest '18 in like manner. Additionally the back is provided at its end with a reinforcing and decorating piece 19.

In order to provide a unitary seat and back structure the opposed sheets which form the coverings for the seat and back are integral and connected at the joint between the same by opposed reinforcing strips 20 secured by stitching 21 along and across the sides of the structure. The piece 19 also may be secured with stitching 22 along its lower edge.

From the foregoing it will be understood, that the present invention is a simple inexpensive unitary seat and back combination cushioning and ventilating structure, which is light in weight, can be readily applied and removed and is so fabricated and reinforced that it will last for a relatively long period without breakage such that will expose jagged ends or rough edges likely to cause damage either to the person or property.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not to be limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claim.

What is claimed is:

A ventilated seat cushion and back rest for application to a conventional seat comprising a seat frame including a wire edge, coiled springs extending across said frame between said Wire edge and being coiled together and fastened to said wire edge, a strip of strong protective material embracing each face of said springs adjacent the wire edge, said strip extending around the outer periphery of said cushion and back rest and covering the ends of the springs and the connection of said springs to said wire edge, a foraminous covering material completely encasing the springs and said strip of protective material of both the seat and back rest and secured together and to said protective material leaving ventilating space in the central portion of said covering material, additional protective material between the plies of covering material embracing the opposed edges of the seat and back rest, said additional protective material and said covering material extending the entire width of the seat and back thereby providing a durable hinge connection whereby the hinge connection between said seat and said back rest will maintain said seat and back rest in a definite connected relation at all times during use or storage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Heckethorn Apr. 3, 1962 

